2009 OF Rankings

1. Grady Sizemore – his power and speed numbers are unmatched and only gettting better.

2. Matt Holliday -don’t think for a second that just because he’s the No. 2 ranked OF that I’ll target him. The 28 SBs was a shock and is the outlier for his career SBs, aka be happy if he gives you 20 next year. But my No. 1 concern is that he has a 200 pt OPS difference in his home/away splits and he could be nearing his final days in Colorado. Now, might this trend continue, just in another stadium that he calls home? Sure, some people just hate travelling. But you know what? I’m not wasting my 1st round pick or highest-priced auction player on a guy who could flop simply by being traded.

3. Ryan Braun – A big question in 2008 was “can Braun repeat.” Well, he did. He followed up a 34-hr season with a 37-hr season and a 15-sb campaign with a 14-sb campaign. Now critics, rightfully so, will say he did nearly the same numbers in 2007 while playing 40 fewer games. That’s true, but he put up 1st rounder numbers in his sophmore year even after pitchers where given in depth scouting reports and he was viewed as one of the leagues most dangerous hitters. Owners should be pleased to see that he survived the adjustment and still maintained a .284 average and nearly a .900 OPS.

4. Carlos Beltran – He’s getting older (31) but still giving immense value. The days of 40 hr seasons are probably over, but now owners can hope for a 30-30 chase. This year he ended just shy in both with 27 hrs and 25 sbs. But the 112 Rs and 116 RBIs are filthy.

5. Josh Hamilton – Like I feared earlier in the season, he didn’t hold up. Playing 162 games isn’t as it seems to us on the couch. The season is long, grueling and takes some time to adjust to. Josh Hamilton – who had been in and out of rehab – wasn’t ready. But he may be next year. Either way, heck of an ’08 campaign and I think you can draft him with confidence.